July 19 - The animated cartoon Star Key, produced in Fabriano by Gama Movie Animation, has been selected as one of the twenty finalists in the race at the Seoul Promotion Plan. The event is the Asian festival of animation products, and its awards are one of the highest in the world for the sector. Star Key, only Italian finalist, is co-produced by RAI and will be part of the Rai Fiction schedule in 2014 and prime time on Rai Due. It is a 26 episodes cartoon each lasting 26 minutes, aimed at children between the ages of 6 and 9. The protagonist is "Luca", a young and beautiful princess engaged in the struggle between good and evil. "The creativity, research and innovation - says the president of the Region, Gian Mario Spacca - are formidable engines for an economy that wants to look beyond the crisis. Faced with such a difficult scenario, diversifying our production from more traditional sectors is essential. The creative industry in the Marche is young but has already had notable success and experiences, thanks to Gama Movie Animation, which is collecting major awards at the international level. This initiative is therefore a little gem all the more valuable to the territory, especially in Fabriano, struggling with the hardest crisis since the war. Gama Movie is a company that has been able to diversify its production in the tradition of the classic manufacturing district. Much like it, we should not be put down by the recession, but we should be fighting with the help of new ideas to create businesses and employment opportunities: this success is a sign of hope and encouragement for the whole regional community. For 26 episodes, Star Key will also be on prime time on national television: this is another terrific opportunity to strengthen and promote the attractiveness of our region." "Our presence in Seoul, - says the director and author, Gabrio Marinelli – will allow us to present the new product at the licensing fair, but it will also serve for a series of meetings in preparation for a partnership with a major Korean animation study. This is a step that will allow us to network with a number of international talents and advanced technologies." Even though it is an animated cartoon, the authors were keen on underlining its connections to their native territory, and the scenery and some of the locations of Star Key arise from the beauty of the Marche region, the Frasassi caves especially.   

GAMA MOVIE ANIMATION: A PROFILE

The company was founded by Gabrio Marinelli in 1988 and has currently 10 internal resources as well as an international network of professional animators. Having accumulated over twenty years experience as a professional journalist for RAI, Marinelli has been involved in video production for television and film. The experiences accumulated over the years include documentaries, institutional films and television commercials. In addition to television equipment, Gama has its own internal rooms ready for the post-production processes in audio and video. Constant technological updating and strong creativity accompany Gama, bringing it to explore the world of the cartoon. In 2012, Gama signed an agreement with RAI Fiction for the co-production of the animated television series Star Key. Gabrio Marinelli is the second Italian director, after Franco Zeffirelli, to have won the prestigious "Grand Prix for the best tourist film" in Vienna in 1997 for his documentary, "A wonderful story written on water."